Gwyneth Paltrow: Yelling at water hurts its feelings

Journalist

Gwyneth Paltrow: being mean to water changes its molecular structure. Photo: AFP

Gwyneth Paltrow has encouraged her newsletter readers to consider the impact being unkind to water has on the substance in the latest Goop missive.

In her lifestyle newsletter, Paltrow wrote about her fascination with the power of words and energy.

She cited a study into the energy of words by Japanese scientist Masuru Emoto that involved speaking, yelling and playing music to water to discover if it had any molecular impact.

"In his experiments, Emoto poured pure water into vials labelled with negative phrases like 'I hate you' or 'fear'. After 24 hours, the water was frozen, and no longer crystallised under the microscope: It yielded grey, misshapen clumps instead of beautiful lace-like crystals.

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"In contrast, Emoto placed labels that said things like 'I Love You', or 'Peace' on vials of polluted water, and after 24 hours, they produced gleaming, perfectly hexagonal crystals."

Paltrow, who last week drew fire from Cindy McCain for comparing internet criticism to war, wrote she had long been an admirer of Mr Emoto's work.

Few scientists have attempted to replicate or interrogate Mr Emoto's findings. He has also run a similar experiment with rice in water, with similar results.